Sheep-shears.



No. 654,008. Patented July l7, I900.

C. C. KIRKLAND,

SHEEP SHEARS.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1900.)

(No Model.)

a Mow/WW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. KIRKLAND, OF BURLINGTON, MICHIGAN.

SHEEP-SHEARS SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 654,008, dated July 1' 7, 1900.

Application filed April 4:, 1900.

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. KIRKLAND, a citizen of the United States, and a'resident of Burlington, Calhoun county, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheep-Shears; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to cutlery, and more especially to that class of devices known as animal-shears, and the object of the same is to produce certain improvements in sheepshears.

To this end the invention consists in the details described below and shown in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the shears open, the spring-arms being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an inner edge view of the right blade. Fig. 3 is an inner edge view of the left blade with the stop removed. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of one of the stops.

The two members or blades of these shears are practically duplicates, and I will describe 'but one.

inward and is open at the rear end to receive one arm of the spring 5. One wall of this groove near the rear end is formed into an eye 6, which is pivoted to the other eye, as by a bolt 7, the eye of each member lying upon that of the other and passing into the groove of said others handle 4. 7

In Fig. 4 is best seen how a pair of lips 10 is formed within the handle just in rear of its heel, and these lips engage grooves 11 in the sides of a stop 12. (Best seen in Fig. 5.) The stop is inserted by passing its rounded outer end into the grooved side of the handle about midway of the length of the latter, then moving the stop outward until its grooves engage the lips and its body rests against the heel, and then inserting the spring 5 until the ends of the latter bear against the stops. One of said stops is preferably of rubber or other soft material, while that illustrated in Serial No. 11;173- (No model.)

Fig. 5 is of wood, with the grain extending across it.

20 is the guard, which is preferably of leather, surrounding the right handle and The use of the device is obvious. Sheepshears wear more rapidly at the points of their blades, and as these are ground off the blades must come closer together in order that the points shall coact. Herein lies the advantage of having one stop of wood and cross grained, as a shaving can easily be clipped off its projecting end. The use of the other soft stop is to cushion the stroke and prevent noise and jar. As the points wear and the inner ends of the blades do not when the wooden stop is shortened, as just described, the blades will pass farther by each other and the inner edge of the left blade is apt to cut the operators thumb; hence the use of the thumb-guard. I consider it advantageous to have the pivot 7 entirely within the handles, and I consider it highly advantageous to use a V-shaped spring whose bend is as small as possible, stands in rear of the pivot, and projects practically no distance beyond the handles. If the stops are used, this spring readily holds them in position. The parts are of the desired sizes and materials.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In animal-shears, the OOlllbllltt-IOHWllih the two members each comprising a blade'and a semitubular handlewith its groove standing inward and open at its rear end, and stops removably attached to said handles near the blades; of eyes on said handles adapted to lie face to face and to project each into the groove of the other handle, a pivot between their centers, and a V-shaped spring whose arms extend removably into the open ends of the handles and lie against said stops and whose bend stands in rear of the pivot, substantially as described.

2. In animal-shears, the combination with the two members each comprising a blade and a semitubular handle with its groove standing inward; of a pair of irrtnrned lips at the inner edge of each handle near its blade, stops having side grooves adapted to be engaged by said lips, a pivotal connection between the rear ends of the handles, and a V- shaped spring Whose arms stand within the handles normally against the stops, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In animal-shears, the combination with the two members each comprising a blade and a semitnbular handle with its groove standing inward and open at its rear end, of a pair of inturned lips at the inner edge of each handle near its blade, a stop having side grooves adapted to be engaged by said lips, a pivotal connection between the rear ends of the handles, and a V-shaped spring whose arms enter said open rear ends of the grooves in the handles and whose bend connects its arms in rear of the pivot, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 29th day of 30 I Witnesses:

GEO. STYLES, V R. F. WATKINS. 

